This kind of race was not a new phenomenon for Portugal as "Grand Touring and Sport Proto" cars were the main components of the national speed championship's principal category, itself begun in 1966. There had also been Grands Prix of Portugal in Lisbon and Porto using "Sport Proto endurance" cars and even the legendary circuit of Vila Real had organised endurance events in the 1950s, a championship very popular in Portugal at the time.

Estoril

At the Estoril circuit's opening, the entry list for its first endurance race was quite extensive but the majority of the foreign drivers didn't in the end accept the invitation to race. Only Briton Roger Heavens would face some of the best national drivers at the wheels of cars such as the Chevron B21, Lotus 62, Lola T280, Porsche 906, Porsche 911, Lotus 47, Alpine A110 plus Mini Cooper S prototype. Portuguese driver Carlos Gaspar would go on to be the winner of Estoril's first race driving the Lola T-280 DFV of Team Bip. Two races of the European GT Championship were organised for 1972 and 1973 but the race format of 50 minutes did not really reflect the traditional endurance races with pit stops and driver changes.

The following year should have seen another race but the 1973 oil crisis and the Carnation Revolution military coup put an end to events at the Estoril circuit for several years...

It would take until 1977 before a real endurance race would be seen at the Estoril circuit, with the ACP Grand Prix counting towards the World Sports Prototypes Championship. The winner of the race – shortened to 2h30 – would be Italian Arturo Merzario (Alfa Romeo 33SC12) at the top of a fully Alfa Romeo podium. It's worth noting also the presence of the only Portuguese- entered car, the low-profile Ford-engined Bravo RR77 driven by Orlando Gonçalves and design engineered by Bravo Marinho.

But the ACP GP marked the beginning of a long drought for Portuguese fans of endurance racing as motorsport in the country would be mainly centred around the Rally of Portugal, which joined Formula 1 in 1984.

Le Mans-type enthusiasts would have to wait 23 years in order to attend another international sportscar race thanks to the FIA GT in 2000 at Estoril and the return of endurance racing and the Spirit of Le Mans would come in 2001 with the "Le Mans Endurance Series", created and organised by Patrick Peter.

The first 1000 Km of Estoril was met with enthusiasm, and attracted many foreign participants familiar with the discipline, as well as some Portuguese drivers. All indications pointed towards the race being the most promising event of the year but the round was in the end notable for the low number of entries. Nevertheless, this event will remain unique for the Portuguese who were treated to a real “Le Mans" type race with access to attractions hitherto unseen in Portugal: paddock access, contact with the drivers, autograph sessions, distribution of posters and the traditional Le Mans style start.

The 2001 race

The race was hotly contested between Audi and Courage in LMP. In practice Stefan Johansson, at the wheel of an Audi R8 wearing the colours of the famous international oil company – Gulf – took pole position. On the 192nd lap, the Courage C60 driven by Derichebourg hit the Audi and took it off track. Five laps later the Courage took the chequered flag before being disqualified.

In the end it was a GTS car, the Saleen S7R of Ray Mallock, which was declared victorious in the 1000 Km of Estoril. For the first time in the history of the ALMS/ELMS overall victory would go to a GT car.

A few days later, manager of the French team, Henri Pescarolo (Courage C60) filed a protest and saw it accepted; this French victory still leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for some drivers .

Since 2005 sports prototypes and GTs have once again been permitted to compete together in national races. The Porsche 911 GT2s, 911 GT3s or even the Lister Storm of Briton Bobby Verdon-Roe, and prototypes such as the CVO-Honda , the Radical SR3 or even the small Portuguese Suzuki-engined Semog CM prototype have rubbed shoulders on Portuguese circuits.

2011

2011 saw the return of international sports prototypes and GT races with a 6-hour leg of the Le Mans Series (LMS). Henri Pescarolo's team tasted victory once more in Portugal, with the Pescarolo 01 Evo Judd; it would be the last for the legendary four-time winner of the24 Hours of Le Mans.

In GTE Pro, the Ferrari F458 of Walker and Bell crossed the finish in first place, practically neck and neck with the Porsche 997 GT3 RSR of Lieb and Lietz It was an exciting weekend, summed up by the Portuguese in a single, typically Portuguese word which is difficult to translate: Saudade. (*)

This nostalgia will be brought to the fore with the return of the European Le Mans Series and the Spirit of Le Mans this weekend on the occasion of the grand finale of the 2014 season: the 4 Hours of Estoril.

(*) Dating from the time when Portuguese sailors went off to explore the world, the word Saudade describes a mix of feelings covering sadness, loss, distance and love.

 
ELMS press release